Window platform



Aug. 11, 1942.

c. JlRASEK WINDOW PLATFORM Fild Sept. 12, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS.

Aug. 11, 1942. 2 c. JIRASEK WINDOW PLATFORM 7 Filed Sept. 12, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 734." I \:\I-. I ll "'HHHIII. "Hu||... A0

INVENTOR.

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ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 11, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WINDOW PLATFORM Charles Jirasek, Detroit, Mich.

Application September 12, 1940, Serial No. 356,423

8 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved window platform.

An object is to provide a window platform which may be quickly secured in place to project through a window opening and therebeyond to support a workman in position outside of the window for purposes of washing, painting, or otherwise working on the window or adjacent side wall of the building. It is of simple construction, light weight, and possesses substantial strength and rigidity when in position. It may be readily collapsed so that it can be carried under the arm of the workman and quickly and readily installed in place or removed.

The platform is provided with means which engages the room face of the side walls adjacent the window which may bethe window jamb. This means is adjustable to accommodate window openings of different size. The platform is also provided with a wall engaging bracket which is hinged to its underside and adapted to be held in engagement with the outer side wall of the building below the window opening and which bracket is adjustable lengthwise of the platform to accommodate for building walls of different thicknesses and which bracket is extensible to engage a side wall which is flush with a window opening or one which projects inwardly therefrom as in the case of a bay window.

The platform is provided with a guard rail 30 which encircles its projecting outer end and which guard rail is collapsible to fold flat against the platform when not in use or is adapted to be elevated to project thereabove and to be quickly and releasably secured in such elevated position.

The wall engaging bracket is'slidably mounted upon a track which extends lengthwise of the platform. For adjustment to desired positions to accommodate for different wall thicknesses 40 gaging portion of the means which engages the 45 room face of the wall whereby the bracket may be set to the position desired for any particular wall thickness.

A connection is provided to hold the wall bracket against the wall of the building and this 50 connection is adapted to be releasably secured to the platform and it further cooperates to maintain a guard rail in the elevated position.

Other objects, advantages and meritorious from the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings, wherein: s

Figure 1 is a perspective of my improved window platform in use,

Fig. 2 is a plan of the structure shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken on line 3-3of Fig. 2 but illustrating the guard rail in the inintermediate elevated position,

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2, a

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3, s

Fig. 6 is a detail of the guard rail assembly, and

Fig. '7 is a side elevation of the platform in the folded position. s

In the drawing, the window opening in the building is indicated as Ill. There is a window sill l2. The side walls on opposite sides of the window opening are indicated as M. The lower window is here shown as elevated. The platform structure comprises a platform board [6 which may be formed of wood or metal. Itis here shown as wood and also there is here shown a metal channel I8 which embraces the outer end of this platform board and a metal channel 20 embraces the inner extremity of the board.

A guide way 22 extends transversely across the inner end of the board. This guide way is provided with end fittings 24 by which it is secured to the board. The guide way is angular in cross section as shown in Fig. 3 and wall engaging means in the form of two slidable members 26 are slidably disposed within this guide way, as illustrated particularly in Figs. 1 and 2, to be moved toward each other or spread apart. These members 26 may be spread apart as shown in Fig. 2 to accommodate a window opening of large width or moved toward each other to accommodate one of narrow width. The outer end of each member 26 may be provided with a rubber cushion contact wrapping 28 which directly contacts the room face of the Wall. Each member 26 may be notched along its upper edge as at 30 to receive a stop 32, which stop is slidable within a housing 34 of the end fittings 24 either to be positioned within a cut out 30 or to be lifted therefrom. A series of these out out notches may be provided in each member 26. These members are here shown as angular in cross section.

The platform is provided with a slot 36 which extends linearly of its outer end portion. A rod 38 extends lengthwise through this slot and features of the invention will more fully appear through the platform being provided with ahead at one end and a nut at the opposite end as illustrated in Fig. 3. This rod is serrated or notched on its underside throughout a substantial portion of the length of the slot as indicated at 46. A wall bracket is hinged to a slid 42 which slide is mounted upon this rod for slidable movement therealong. The structure is shown particularly in Figs. 3 and 5.

A U-shaped clip 44 (Fig. 3) surmounts this slide and its opposite ends engage underneath the rod 46 so as to be engaged within the notches along the underside of this rod. A screw 46 is threaded through a nut 48 which nut has wings that extend underneath the sides of the clip as shown in Fig. 5 and as the screw is threaded down against the top of the rod those portions of the clip which extend underneath the rod are drawn upwardly against the notches therein to position the slide wherever it may be adjusted linearly of the rod.

This slide mechanism carries an angular bracket element. Th base of this angular bracket is indicated as 56. This base is integral with the slide 42. The sides 52 of the angular bracket are pivoted to the base as shown in Fig. 4 at 5|. These side members converge to form a guide 54 through which extends a bracket arm 56 that is provided at its outer end 56 with a wall engaging part.

This bracket arm is pivoted between a pair of Y lugs on the base as shown in Fig. 4 by a removable pin 66. Upon removal of the pin the bracket arm may be projected outwardly through the guide 54. This guide is provided with a pin aperture 62 and the arm is provided with apertures r 64. The pivot pin of the arm may be received through the bracket aperture 62 and an arm aperture 64 to hold the arm 56 at adjusted positions.

A scale 66 extends along the side of the slot 36 and is marked olf in inches as shown. It is so calibrated that when the slide member 42 is positioned opposite a determined inch measurement and the bracket is adjusted to a determined angular position which is that at which the platform will be readily supported the distance between the wall engaging end of the bracket arm 56 and the wall engaging ends 28 of the elements 26 will be that measured by the scale. In fitting the device for any particular window opening the thickness of the wall adjacent such opening may be measured and the slide set for that particular thickness and the bracket will then be raised to the right height to properly support the platform.

A chain or other flexible element 6! is con- I nected to the outer end of the triangular bracket arm 52 as shown in Fig. 3. This chain extends up through the slot 36 in the platform and is adapted to be engaged by either one of two hooks 68 or 66. 69 is the hook that is provided on the extreme inner end of the platform. 68 is an auxiliary hook spaced outwardly therefrom for a purpose hereinafter set forth. It will be seen that when the chain is engaged through a link with either one of these hooks that the bracket arm will be held up against the wall of the building.

There is a guard fence provided for the outer end of the platform which may be elevated to the position shown in Fig. 1 or may be collapsed thereagainst as shown in Fig. '7. This guard fence comprises a pair of uprights I6 pivoted at their lower ends to the platform and bridged across at their upper ends as shown and provided with suitable braces 12. A side rail 14 is hinged to the upper end of each upright 10 and an upright 16 is hinged to the inner end of each side rail 74. The upright 16 has a lower end portion H which is bent angularly as shown in Fig. 6 to be received within a socket 19 when the guard rail is in dotted outline the partially elevated position shown in Figs. 3 and 6.

A bail like or U-shaped guard rail 18 has its two ends hinged to the side rails 14 as shown in Fig. 1. Its lower end is adapted to be received underneath clips 80, which clips are slotted as shown and adapted to be adjusted lengthwise of the platform through release of a securing screw 82 which extends through a slot in the platform. The U-shaped element is held against the platform by these clips and is held underneath the clips by an auxiliary U-shaped bail like member 84 which is pivoted to the member 18 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and which is adapted to lie flat against the platform as shown in such figures. This bail like element has shoulders 86, which are adapted to overhang and abut the end 24 of the guideway 22 and the base of this U member is bent downwardly as shown at 88 to form a seat for chain 64 as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 when such chain is locked in the hook 69.

The chain not only holds the wall bracket upwardly against the outer wall but also holds the U member 84 downwardly against the platform so that the guard fence is maintained in the upright position as shown in Fig. 1. As the guard fence is moved from a partially elevated position shown in Fig. 3 to the completely elevated position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the bent ends 11 of the uprights 16 are wedged in the sockets of the platform so as to form rigid supports to hold the guard fence elevated.

A pair of slide rails 96 are secured to the underside of the platform as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 on opposite sides of the angular bracket and project below such bracket when it is folded up against the underside of the platform so that as the platform is pushed outwardly through a window opening it rides on these slide rails to prevent marring of the window sill.

When the device is put in position the platform is projected through the window opening. Prior to this time the wall bracket has been folded against the underside of the platform. The bracket is now released and the chain secured to the auxiliary hook 58. Prior to'this the members 26 have been adjusted to the proper extension to engage the room face of the wall. With the platform thus held in place the guard fence is elevated through the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 1 with the base of the U member '18 being inserted underneath the clips 80. The bail element 86 is then lowered to the position shown in Fig. 1 and the chain is released from its engagement with the hook 68 and is attached to the hook 69 so that the chain holds the bail element 84 down as shown in Fig. 1 and serves the dual function of holding the guard fence elevated and holding the wall bracket against the Wall. The platform is now in a secure position and may be used by a workman. Upon completion of the work the platform may be quickly removed and the fence collapsed. The platform may now be transported to another place for use.

What I claim is:

1. A window platform having an inner end portion adapted to rest upon a window sill and an outer end portion adapted to project outwardly therebeyond, wall engaging means extending transversely of the inner end of the platform and adjustable transversely thereof, a supporting bracket hinged to the outer end of the platform and adjustable lengthwise along the platform, said bracket depending angularly below the platform to engage the outer face of the side wall below the window opening, a collapsible guard fence secured to the outer end of the platform to collapse thereagainst or to be upraised to extend as a fence thereabout a chain connecting the supporting bracket with the platform adapted to hold the bracket against said wall, a bail like element hinged to the fence to fold against the platform and means engaging the chain to hold it down on the bail like element to maintain the guard fence in the upraised position.

2. A window platform having an inner end portion adapted to rest upon a window sill and an outer end portion adapted to project outwardly therebeyond, wall engaging means extending transversely of the inner end of the platform and adjustable transversely thereof adapted to dow opening and means connecting said side' arms with the platform to hold the bracket at an angular position depending below the platform and toward the inner end of the platform.

3. A window platform having an inner end portion adapted to rest upon a window sill and an outer end portion adapted to project outwardly therebeyond, wall engaging means secured to the inner end of the platform and adapted to engage the room face of the side walls beyond the window opening, said platform having a slot extending longitudinally of its outer end, a rod extending linearly through said slot, a slide mounted on the rod and adjustable therealong and adapted to be locked at adjusted positions therealong. a bracket arm swingably coupled with the slide and depending below the platform and having a free end adapted to engage the outer face of the side wall below the window opening, means connected with the bracket extending through said slot and releasably connected with the platform to hold the bracket against the wall.

4. A window platform having an inner end portion adapted to rest upon a window sill and an outer end portion adapted to project outwardly therebeyond, wall engaging means secured to the inner end of the platform and adapted to engage the room face of the side walls adjacent to the window opening, said platform having a slot extending longitudinally of its outer end, a rod extending linearly through said slot, a slide mounted on the rod and adjustable therealong and adapted to be locked at adjusted positions therealong, a bracket arm swingably coupled with the slide and depending below the platform and having an outer end adapted to engage the outer face of the side wall below the window opening,

.a collapsible guard fence secured to the outer end of the platform to collapse thereagainst or to be up-raised to extend as a fence thereabout, said guard fence including a U-shaped element at its inner end adapted to overlie the platform and a chain connected with the outer end of the bracket extending through said slot adapted to overlie said U-shaped element and to be secured to the platform to hold the bracket against the wall below the window opening.

5. A window platform adapted to be projected through a window opening and having an inner end portion provided with means adapted to engage the inner face of the side wall adjacent the window opening and an outer end portion provided with a hinged bracket adapted to be swung to engage the outer face of the side wall below the window opening, a guard fence encircling the outer end of the platform and hinged thereto to fold downwardly thereagainst or to be elevated to extend upwardly therefrom, said fence terminating at its inner end in a U-shaped element, means on the platform adapted to engage said U-shaped element, a secondary U-shaped element hinged to the fence and adapted to extend over the platform, and a chain connected with the hinged bracket and extending through the platform and over the secondary U-shaped element and adapted to be connected to the platform to hold the secondary U-shaped element downwardly and to hold the bracket upwardly against the wall.

6. A window platform adapted to be projected through a Window opening and having an inner end portion provided with means adapted to engage the inner face of the side wall adjacent the window opening and an outer end portion provided with a hinged bracket adapted to be swung to engage the outer face of the side wall below the window opening, a guard fence encircling the outer end of the platform and having uprights hinged to the outer extremity of the platform, guard rails extending inwardly from the upper ends of said uprights, uprights hinged to the inner ends of said guard rails having free lower ends bent angularly and removably received within sockets provided in the platform, a guard fence element hinged to the upper ends of said last mentioned uprights and extending downwardly and inwardly therefrom, and means for connecting said element to the platform.

7. A window platform adapted to be projected through a window opening and having an inner end portion provided with means adapted to engage the inner face of the side wall adjacent the window opening and an outer end portion provided with a hinged bracket adapted to be swung to engage the outer face of the side wall below the window opening, a guard fence encircling the outer end of the platform and having uprights hinged to the outer extremity thereof, guard rails extending inwardly from the upper end of said uprights, uprights hinged to the inner ends of said guard rails having free lower ends bent angularly and removably receivable within sockets provided in the platform, a U-shaped fence element hinged to the inner ends of said guard rails and extending downwardly and inwardly to the platform, means adapted to secure said U-shaped element to the platform, a secondary U-shaped element hinged to the first U-shaped element and adapted to extend inwardly therefrom, and means for securing the secondary U- shaped element to the platform.

8. A window platform adapted to be projected through a window opening having an inner end portion adapted to seat upon the window sill and an outer end portion projecting outwardly therefrom, a guard rail encircling the outer end portion and hinged thereto to be collapsed window opening clip means on the platform engageable with the guard fence when in upraised. position, a bail element hinged to the guard fence adapted to fold against the inner end of the 7 platform when the fence is upraised, said chain adapted to extend over the bail element, and. means engageable with the chain when so extended.

CHARLES JIR ASEK. 

